"I was a late child from my parents, so I grew up surrounded by people a lot older than me. I think even when I was 21, I felt like I was a 70-year-old man"

In this quote, author Jonathan Franzen assesses his training as a "late child" from his parents, indicating he was born later on in their lives. This resulted in him being surrounded by people who were much older than him as he grew up. He then goes on to say that even at the age of 21, he seemed like he had the maturity and point of view of a 70-year-old man. This might suggest that his experiences and interactions with older individuals formed him into a more mature and wise person at a young age. It likewise highlights the effect that our environments and relationships can have on our advancement and understanding of the world.